IGCSE in ESL
The exam consists of a reading/writing paper, a listening paper and a speaking test. Generally, students are fairly competent at listening but require practice to become familiar with the exam format. To cope with the
reading/writing paper, they need to acquire and practise associated skills. At this stage, students should have a sound knowledge of grammar, so grammar is approached through examples in texts, specific relevant
exercises, correction of a student’s written work and oral production. Supplementary individual lessons are given when necessary. The teaching of pronunciation is integrated into lessons. A past IGCSE paper is
allocated to each block of lessons to work specifically on exam questions throughout the year either in class or for homework. The course book ‘Success International’ is used and exam practice is from past papers
and ‘Practice Tests for IGCSE in ESL English as a Second Language Book 1 and Book 2’
Topics
Term 1
Happiness and Success
You and Your Community
Sport and Fitness
Entertainment
Supplementary materials
Advanced Language Practice P216 Arts and
entertainment
Recycling Advanced English P114 The media
and the arts
Advanced writing practice U10 Writing a book
or film review
Term 2
Entertainment
Technology
Travel
The Environment
The World of Work
Supplementary Materials
English Vocabulary in Use U49 Travel
Recycling Advanced English U57 Travelling
and transport
Practise Advanced English U4 For and against
Recycling Advanced English U43 Animal rights
U47 The environment
Advanced Language Practice P189 The
natural world
Term 3
Review of topics covered
Skills
Work Produced
Reading
Predicting content/Understanding newspaper
headlines/Skimming and scanning/
Recognising discourse & reference markers
Writing
Describing people/Informal letter to a
friend/Form-filling/Film reviews /Summarising
the story line of a book/Describing
places/Comparing and contrasting/Summary
writing (recognising key points, reformulation,
paraphrasing)/Note taking/form-filling
Listening
Introduction to IGCSE listening paper (work
through test for strategies &
techniques/Listening for gist and detail
Speaking
expressing opinions, asking for opinions,
agreeing/disagreeing/ Describing people and
places/Presenting views on films and books
(recommending, narrating, persuading)
Article on what makes a good
friend/Nominating someone for a ‘Special
Person Award’/ The advantages and
disadvantages of a gap year/Article about a
famous person to invite for speech day/
Compare and contrast your own country and
England/Letter to the local paper ‘Save Our
Community Centre’ /Article persuading young
people to take care of the environment/Letter
to parents about organising a school trip/Letter
to the event organiser asking to be presented
to a famous persona/article about a one-day
school activity to raise money for charity
Account of a book you’ve read and enjoyed
Reading
Reading for gist/locating
information/connecting answers in text to
comprehension questions/review of discourse
& reference markers/reading and summarising
Writing
Discursive writing/Organising an argument/
Topic sentences/Linking devices/Formal &
informal register/Reviewing planning,
organisation and cohesion/Review summary
skills/Review note-taking /Review form-filling
Listening
Recognising key words/Selecting key ideas
Note-taking from listening
Speaking
Discussion of work ( job satisfaction v salary
etc) Giving talks on animal experimentation,
zoos, pets/Chunking and pausing/Accuracy
and fluency focus/Developing opinions
General review of skills
Practice Papers
Oct 2008/ June 2009/Oct 2009June 2010
Article about how people sent to prison should
be treated/Article about a place visited for
‘Young Travel Writer Award’/Article about the
pros/cons of mobile phones/Article about the
effect of education on career prospects/Letter
to the council giving views on plans to build a
factory in your area/Article giving views about
keeping animals in zoos/Article on how
animals should be treated
Three summary exercises
Mock exam from most recent past paper
Reading/writing paper, listening and speaking
papers in exam conditions